Australia's second largest veggie company admits 'cartel conduct'

Perfection Fresh admits fixing the price of vegetables sold to Aldi in NSWBy Justine LongmoreABC RuralTopic:Consumer ProtectionPosted Mon 26 Oct 2026 at 1:52pmMon 26 Oct 2026 at 1:52pmALDI vegetable supplier Perfection Fresh has admitted to price fixing. (ABC Rural: David Claughton)In short:Perfection Fresh Australia has admitted engaging in "cartel conduct" on 11 occasions, 2019–2020.The company admitted fixing the price of vegetables sold to Aldi in NSW.What's next?The ACCC says the company has agreed to pay a $12m fine, subject to court approval.Australia's second-largest fresh produce supplier, Perfection Fresh Australia, has admitted to "cartel conduct" by fixing the price of broccoli, cauliflower and iceberg lettuce sold to Aldi stores in New South Wales.The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) began civil action in the Federal Court in September 2025 against four vegetable-growing companies, and three individuals, including Perfection Fresh.The group was accused of working together to illegally fix the price of fresh produce sold at Aldi stores in NSW, Victoria and Queensland between 2018 and 2024.The ACCC accused four vegetable suppliers of fixing the price of fresh produce. (ABC News: Anna Chisholm)The ACCC said Perfection Fresh had admitted to engaging in cartel conduct on 11 occasions between 2019 and 2020.Perfection Fresh has agreed to pay a $12 million penalty, subject to Federal Court approval at a later date.The case against the remaining suppliers — Hydro Produce, Veli Velisha Fresh Produce and Velisha National Farms, and M Fragapane & Sons — is continuing.Luke Woodward says cartel behaviour can increase prices and harm consumers. (Supplied: ACCC)In a statement, ACCC Commissioner Luke Woodward said cartel conduct "undermines competition"."[It] can increase prices, harming consumers and raising the cost of doing business," he said."Enforcing cartel laws and protecting competition in the supply of fresh food are ongoing priorities for the ACCC."Perfection Fresh Australia, which is based in NSW, supplies a broad range of produce including cauliflower, broccoli, iceberg lettuce, Brussels spouts, broccolini and celery to all states and territories.The company admitted to price fixing on 11 occasions, but the court can penalise only 10 instances: nine contraventions and one attempted contravention.The other falls outside the period in which a penalty can apply.